MAITLAND v. MERVYN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6431, 22 September 1882, Page 4

MAITLAND v. MERVYN.

TO THK KDITOR. Sir,—A- ill your leader of yes'erday, so in your sub-leader of to-day, you have b\-ed your remarks on the assumption of a state of facts which does not appear on the record, and an entire misconception of the meaning and object of the provisions of "The Land Act, 1577." The course to be pursued is clearly prescribed by the Act, and the Minister of Lands has seen fit to adopt a method of his own devising1, and to select Mr Mervyn as the subject for his experiment. There is not any technical defect in the Act of which I am aware. The part of the Act relating to deferred payments appears remarkably clear and intelligible for a New Zealand statute. As Mr Mervyn never entered into any other engagements than those prescribed by the Act, he has not been freed from any by a supposed technical defect. Tho Minister of Lands has desired to thrust engagements upon him which were never contemplated either by the Act or its framers. If the Minister is determined to crush Mr Mervyn by using the public funds to protract litigation, he will doubtless appeal from what you improperly call the judgment of Mr Justice Williams to the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, and then to the Privy Council. It is possible that by such means the defendant may be ruined : but it is very unlikely that the judgment of the Supreme Court, in so far as it is in defendant's favour, will be reversed if he can find means to prosecute his defence. If their action in the present case is to be taken as a sample of the good works of the present Government, it is clear that they cannot rely upon works as a means of political salvation, but must trust entirely to the faith of their supporters.—l am, &c, John Mouat. September 21st.